'Small minority with no regard for community' causing chaos in Bogside: PSNI Superintendent
Army bomb experts reveal devices found near city walls were viable
Two viable devices were found early today (Thursday) near the city walls in Londonderry – as police dealt with a fifth night of violence in the Bogside.
The devices were discovered shortly before 4am after a security alert.
They were examined by Army bomb experts and found to be “crude but viable”.
The devices were made safe and taken away for further tests.
No residents were evacuated and no roads were closed during the alert.
The PSNI said that overnight, 16 petrol bombs were thrown at officers in the vicinity of the city’s Walls, while debris was set alight in the Lecky flyover area.
Speaking about the continuing disorder, Superintendent Gordon McCalmont said: “While the number of people involved in last night’s disorder in the Bogside appears to have been less than in previous nights, it is still unacceptable and I am very disappointed people made a deliberate decision to go out onto the streets and cause trouble, despite the clear message from the community earlier. I am, however, thankful this morning that none of our officers, or members of the public have been injured.
“I want to stress the disorder we have seen on the streets over the past five nights has been caused by a minority of people who have absolutely no regard for the community being impacted, and the people who live there.
“I am urging those who have been engaged in the recent violence, and anyone tempted to become involved in this type of behaviour, to stop and consider the consequences of their actions, and desist immediately.
“I want to finish by asking those in the community to continue to use their influence to help us maintain control of the situation so we don’t have another night of disorder.
“Our priority is keeping people safe, and I want to reassure the people of this city this morning that our response, should there be any further disorder, will continue to be proportionate and we will deploy the necessary resources to detect and deter those responsible.”